This page is not affiliated with authorearnings.com. Rails app to generate this can be found on GitHub. Some earlier charts are here.
Table columns are percentiles: 25% means that, if you line everyone up in order, 25% made that or less.
Self-Published Earnings, 2013
| # |
25% |
50% |
75% |
90% |
95% |
100% |
|
| 914 |
300 |
3000 |
24000 |
91000 |
200000 |
13000000 |
|
Traditionally-Published Earnings, 2013
| # |
25% |
50% |
75% |
90% |
95% |
100% |
|
| 265 |
800 |
7000 |
38000 |
100000 |
200000 |
1200000 |
|
Self-Published Earnings by # Books Self-Published
| # |
25% |
50% |
75% |
90% |
95% |
100% |
| 0-2 |
100 |
500 |
3200 |
15000 |
30000 |
130000 |
| 3-5 |
200 |
1600 |
14000 |
46000 |
70000 |
500000 |
| 6-10 |
1000 |
10000 |
45000 |
140000 |
200000 |
500000 |
| 11-25 |
3000 |
19000 |
78000 |
270000 |
380000 |
3500000 |
| 26-50 |
3000 |
24000 |
100000 |
400000 |
1000000 |
13000000 |
| 51-9999 |
5000 |
20000 |
80000 |
102500 |
1000000 |
1000000 |
Traditional Earnings by # Books Traditionally Published
| # |
25% |
50% |
75% |
90% |
95% |
100% |
| 0-2 |
200 |
1000 |
7876 |
50000 |
100000 |
190000 |
| 3-5 |
2000 |
17500 |
40000 |
150000 |
380000 |
500000 |
| 6-10 |
1500 |
10000 |
40000 |
100000 |
100000 |
200000 |
| 11-25 |
4214 |
30000 |
70000 |
250000 |
450000 |
550000 |
| 26-50 |
2500 |
10000 |
60000 |
153000 |
200000 |
1000000 |
| 51-9999 |
35000 |
65000 |
100000 |
1200000 |
1200000 |
1200000 |
Self-Published Earnings by Cover Art Type
| # |
25% |
50% |
75% |
90% |
95% |
100% |
| My Own |
150 |
1500 |
15000 |
50000 |
104000 |
3500000 |
| Pre-Made |
100 |
500 |
2000 |
11500 |
60000 |
100000 |
| Hire a Pro |
500 |
5000 |
35000 |
113232 |
250000 |
13000000 |
Self-Published Earnings by Editor Type
| # |
25% |
50% |
75% |
90% |
95% |
100% |
| None |
200 |
3500 |
20000 |
38000 |
165000 |
1000000 |
| Friends & Family |
150 |
1200 |
12000 |
70000 |
100000 |
567000 |
| Critique Group |
125 |
800 |
6000 |
50000 |
64000 |
1000000 |
| Freelance Editor |
600 |
6000 |
40000 |
140000 |
300000 |
13000000 |